This is an impressive crowd: the Have's and Have-more's. Some people call you the elites. I call you my base.

This is an impressive crowd: the Have's and Have-more's. Some people call you the elites. I call you my base.

It is easy at any moment to resign the possession of a great
fortune; to acquire it is difficult read more

It is easy at any moment to resign the possession of a great
fortune; to acquire it is difficult and arduous.
[Lat., Facile est momento quo quis velit, cedere possessione
magnae fortunae; facere et parare eam, difficile atque arduum
est.]

Wealth is well known to be a great comforter.

Wealth is well known to be a great comforter.

You often ask me, Priscus, what sort of person I should be, if I
were to become suddenly rich read more

You often ask me, Priscus, what sort of person I should be, if I
were to become suddenly rich and powerful. Who can determine
what would be his future conduct? Tell me, if you were to become
a lion, what sort of a lion would you be?

Private credit is wealth; public honor is security; the feather
that adorns the royal bird supports its flight; strip read more

Private credit is wealth; public honor is security; the feather
that adorns the royal bird supports its flight; strip him of his
plumage, and you fix him to the earth.

Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only.

Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only.

If thou art rich, thou'rt poor,
For, like an ass whose back with ingots bows,
Thou bear'st read more

If thou art rich, thou'rt poor,
For, like an ass whose back with ingots bows,
Thou bear'st thy heavy riches but a journey,
And death unloads thee.

These riches are possess'd, but not enjoy'd!

These riches are possess'd, but not enjoy'd!

The man is mechanically turned, and made for getting. . . . It
was verily prettily said that we read more

The man is mechanically turned, and made for getting. . . . It
was verily prettily said that we may learn the little value of
fortune by the persons on whom Heaven is pleased to bestow it.